Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
Can you fly a drone at night under Part 107?
Yes, if your initial knowledge test or training under 14 CFR 107.65 was completed after April 6, 2021, and the drone has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. You may dim the lighting for safety, but never turn it off.
Civil twilight needs the same lighting. Except in Alaska, morning civil twilight is the 30 minutes before official sunrise, and evening civil twilight is the 30 minutes after official sunset.
Source: 14 CFR 107.29
What the regulation says
§ 107.29 Operation at night.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system at night unless— (1) The remote pilot in command of the small unmanned aircraft has completed an initial knowledge test or training, as applicable, under § 107.65 after April 6, 2021; and (2) The small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. The remote pilot in command may reduce the intensity of, but may not extinguish, the anti-collision lighting if he or she determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to do so.
(b) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. The remote pilot in command may reduce the intensity of, but may not extinguish, the anti-collision lighting if he or she determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to do so.
Read all of § 107.29
(c) For purposes of paragraph (b) of this section, civil twilight refers to the following: (1) Except for Alaska, a period of time that begins 30 minutes before official sunrise and ends at official sunrise; (2) Except for Alaska, a period of time that begins at official sunset and ends 30 minutes after official sunset; and (3) In Alaska, the period of civil twilight as defined in the Air Almanac.
(d) After May 17, 2021, no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system at night in accordance with a certificate of waiver issued prior to April 21, 2021 under § 107.200. The certificates of waiver issued prior to March 16, 2021 under § 107.200 that authorize deviation from § 107.29 terminate on May 17, 2021.
[Docket FAA-2015-0150, Amdt. 107-1, 81 FR 42209, June 28, 2016, as amended by Amdt. 107-8, 86 FR 4382, Jan. 15, 2021; 86 FR 13631, Mar. 10, 2020]
AC 107-2A, 5.7 Civil Twilight and Operations at Night
Night is defined in § 1.1 as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in The Air Almanac, converted to local time.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.29 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · AC 107-2A, 5.7 Civil Twilight and Operations at Night
Exam traps
- The anti-collision lighting must be visible for at least 3 statute miles.
- Civil twilight is not night, but it still requires the anti-collision lighting.
- The remote pilot in command may reduce the lighting's intensity for safety, but may not extinguish it.
- The anti-collision light rule (107.29(a)(2) and (b)) is on the list of waivable rules in 107.205.
Try it: practice questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.
Practice question 1
Can a sUAS be flown at night?
- A Yes, as long as the rPIC received the proper training and the aircraft is properly equipped with anti-collision lighting that meet the requirements in 107.29.
- B No, a sUAS can only be flown during the day and during twilight.
- C Yes, as long as the aircraft is equipped with anti-collision lighting.
Show the answer
Answer: A. Yes, as long as the rPIC received the proper training and the aircraft is properly equipped with anti-collision lighting that meet the requirements in 107.29.FAA sources: 14 CFR 107.29(a)(1) · 14 CFR 107.29(a)(2)
Practice question 2
What preparation should a pilot make to adapt the eyes for night flying?
- A Avoid red lights at least 30 minutes before the flight.
- B Wear sunglasses after sunset until ready for flight.
- C Avoid bright white lights at least 30 minutes before the flight.
Show the answer
Do night waivers from before 2021 still work?
No. After May 17, 2021, no one may fly at night under a certificate of waiver issued before April 21, 2021. Night flight now runs on 107.29 itself: the training after April 6, 2021 and the anti-collision lighting.
Source: 14 CFR 107.29(d)